[From IDEO Thinking] The Hidden Costs of Caregiving: Sierra Hillman

Medical bills written in codes patients can't read. Homes that don't fit a wheelchair. A specialized bed that can run up to $15,000 and isn't covered by insurance. For the 24 million caregivers in the US, these are everyday obstacles. And each one points to a design opportunity.

This week, we’re sharing an episode from IDEO Thinking, a new IDEO podcast where authors read their own stories from IDEO's Thinking blog. So much of what IDEO does is shaped by the people here, and these stories, told in the writers’ own voices, show what human-centered design looks like across different disciplines and practice areas. If you come to Creative Confidence for ideas to bring into your own work, consider this a fresh source of inspiration.

This episode comes from Sierra Hillman, an interaction designer at IDEO focused on health. She became her father's sole full-time caregiver at 22 after he became paraplegic. Sierra shares the hardest parts of that role and the opportunities she sees for designers, healthcare providers, and businesses to lighten the load.

Subscribe to the IDEO Thinking podcast here: https://shows.acast.com/ideo-thinking

Read the story: https://www.ideo.com/journal/opportunities-in-the-hidden-costs-of-caregiving

Related Resources

IDEO U's Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate: https://www.ideou.com/products/design-thinking-certificate

5 principles for easing the burden on caregivers, by Sierra Hillman and John Won: https://www.ideo.com/journal/5-design-principles-for-easing-the-burden-on-caregivers

Sierra Hillman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sierra-hillman/

In This Episode

(Timestamps are approximate due to ad breaks.)

(00:00) Mina introduces IDEO Thinking and Sierra's story

(02:15) Sierra comes face-to-face with the hidden costs of care at 22

(04:38) Fighting insurance denials and imagining an AI patient advocate

(05:52) Turning cryptic medical bills into something patients can read

(08:07) Preventing bed sores with a smart, affordable bed for home

(10:33) Finding a wheelchair-accessible home, and the tools that could help

(12:04) Why designers have only scratched the surface

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Get episode recaps and register for free live podcast events at ideou.com/podcast.

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